Training

General

All people involved in the Scouts Canada program require some training. The training requirements are summarized in the Volunteer Screening Policy Update document.

The level of training required obviously differs between Leaders, and Parents who stay overnight at a camp, or Parents who simply come on a hike with the youth.

The training can be done in person or online on the myscouts website. Some people report technical difficulties doing the training on myscouts. It should be noted that there are often multiple Sessions to each Module and multiple Modules to each Course. If there are problems with the system recognizing completion, it is recommended to take a screen shot at the completion of each Session to prove that you have in fact taken the course.

Apparently myscouts works best with Google Chrome. Using Macs, ipads or smartphones don’t work well or at all. Ipads allow people to take the training but does not give credit for some reason. Also, users need to wait until they says that they may now close the screen. If the screen is closed too soon, the records won’t be updated.

If a parent moves into a Leadership role from a Parent Overnight role, the Parent Overnight role should be removed and the Leader role made the “Primary Org”. Leaving the Active Parent Overnight role in the myscouts system can cause confusion when they become Active leaders.

Leaders

Leaders need to be registered and have completed a number of training courses.

Volunteers are not allowed to be in a leadership role, nor allowed to wear a uniform, until their myscouts profile is listed as Active.

Volunteers have 90 days to become 100% compliant with all screening/training requirements to get them Active for their registered role. After 90 days, the member will be inactivated from the Group role and therefore cannot be in a leadership role, and won’t count for ratio. It is therefore important for the Registrar to keep up to date with the training status.

Initial Training

To become Active, the following is required (the order is not important):

• Application.
• Reference check (done automatically once the application is entered).
• PRC and VSS (Police Record Check).
• Interview.
• Accept the Code of Conduct on myscouts.
• Online “Scouting Fundamentals” (seven sessions). This is the updated version of what used to be called Woodbadge 1 Module 1 which includes Child and Youth Safety Training and Accessibility Training.
• Once the above is all done, Council Approval is granted.

Once a Leader is Active, they can be invested into the Section and act in a leadership role, but they do not count for Ratio until full "Woodbadge 1 for the Canadian Path" training has been completed.

To stay Active, the following is required:

• Woodbadge 1 for the Canadian Path (seventeen sessions). This is the updated version of what used to be called Woodbadge 1 Modules 2-5 which was the Section-specific training. Note that completing the "Woodbadge 1 for the Canadian Path" training must be done before the leader can count towards Ratio. Twelve of the sessions are generic to all Sections, and five are Section-specific.
• Existing leaders who have Section-specific Woodbadge 1 training or have done the "Woodbadge 1 for the Canadian Path" training are required to do five Section-specific sessions in the "Woodbadge 1 for the Canadian Path" when they move between Sections.
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders (new in 2016). This is required to be completed by all leaders (existing and new) by 31 Aug 2017.
• Yearly acceptance of Code of Conduct.

Leaders have to the end of the Scouting year in which they were registered (31 Aug) to become Active or they will become Inactive. Once they are Active, leaders who are new to a Section have 90 days after Sep 1st to complete their full Woodbadge or they will go Inactive.

Application

Request that the volunteer to fill out the “Volunteer Registration Form” or complete the registration on-line. If the paper form is filled out and the Registrar enters the information into myscouts, a copy of the signed form must be sent to Dyanna Pfenniger.

Reference Check

If the volunteers listed on the registration form and in myscouts have email addresses, the reference check is done and updated by the BackCheck service. BackCheck updates the data on myscouts directly. Our Group therefore doesn’t have to do the checks. Note that if the Registrar edits the references after they are entered, it messes things up and that reference needs to be completely re-entered for the process to work.

The form requires five references, but only three are need to be contacted and be listed as "Pass" on myscouts. The extra two are requested in case there is a problem with the others.

PRC and VSS

The leader (and Adults who attend overnight without their youth) must have a clean Police Record Checks (PRC) Vulnerable Sector Screening/Search (VSS). This is now done as a single process though the BC government:

• The access code provided below is unique to Scouts Canada and can only be used by Scouts Canada volunteers. You will require this code when submitting your request online.
• Online Link: https://justice.gov.bc.ca/eCRC/ Access Code for Scouts Canada: BPMXBZZ8B9
• The results of the criminal record check will be sent directly by email to Scouts Canada - BCY Service Centre who will then process it by entering the information into myscouts.

Alternatively, the PRC can be done through BackCheck for $20-$25.

The Council Registrar will send an email to people who have a PRC that is coming due. The PRC can be done for free through the Ministry of Justice and this check covers both the PRC and the VSS.

Apparently as long as you have a VSS on file and a recent PRC, there no concern about an “expired” VSS.

If a person has the same birthdate (day and year) as someone with a criminal record, the volunteer may need to be fingerprinted as part of this process. This can take a while.

Interview

The ½ hour interview is usually done by the Group Commissioner and a Section Scouter after the references come back. A minimum of two registered Scouters who have done the “Volunteer Screening” Training (a 25 minute video on myscouts) are required.

The Interview Assessment Summary is a guide to the questions to ask during the interview and the Volunteer Screening Checklist is a form to be filled out by the interviewers. Once the interview is completed, the Group Commissioner signs the form and then the Group Commissioner or Registrar enters the information into myscouts (Screening>Interviews). Note that the comments section of the nine questions do not require that a detailed description be entered (“Agrees.” is fine) unless the person is being rejected as a leader.

The forms do not need to be sent into the Scout office for filing. The fact that the Group Commissioner or Registrar enters the information into myscouts is proof enough that the Group Commissioner approves the Interview.

Code of Conduct

All volunteers must accept the Code of Conduct (done annually). This is done on myscouts and should simply appear when you log into myscouts. There is a paper version that can be signed and submitted to the Registrar who can override the record in myscouts.

Scouting Fundamentals

All volunteers should complete "Scouting Fundamentals" on myscouts. This is the updated version of what was called Woodbadge 1 Module 1 (WB1 Module 1 All Sections (WB1mod1/AS)).

The online version of Scouting Fundamentals includes sessions on “Child and Youth Safety Training” and “Accessibility Training”.

Council Approval

Once all the above is completed, the person will receive Council Approval and become Active. This typically takes a few days. If this is taking too long, follow up with the Council Registrar.

Additional Training

The Group will pay for the Leader training at basic levels. Higher training (higher level first aid, Wilderness First Aid, etc.) can be discussed in the Group Committee and may be covered on a case by case basis.

Woodbadge 1 for The Canadian Path

By Aug 31st of the year the member volunteered, they must complete the Woodbadge 1 for The Canadian Path training. Scouters in non-Section roles can take Woodbadge 1 for Group Committee. This can be done online (seventeen sessions) for free or in person for a nominal cost. The Group will cover the cost for Scouters to take the in-person training.

Note that completing the Woodbadge 1 training must be done before the leader can count towards Ratio.

Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders

This is a new requirement in 2016-2017 year. Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training replaces the old Child and Youth Safety training course (Scouting Fundamentals – Module 1 Session 5: How Scouting Helps Keep Youth Safe) and is accessible through the David Heustis Learning Centre. A certificate will be provided upon completion of the course, which is transferable to all youth serving organizations that utilize Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders as their mandatory safety training program, and is valid for 5 years (at which point it must be renewed with training repeated).

Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training is mandatory for all Scouters, and Rover Scouts. The training costs $30, and individuals will be prompted to pay via credit card or via PayPal at the beginning of the session. The Group will cover the cost for Section leaders to take this training.

Individuals, who have a current Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training certificate can apply it to meet Scout’s Canada’s requirement, and will not need to retake the training until their certificate expires.

In order to transition all Scouters to the new safety training program requirement, Active Scouters, Scouters under age and Rover Scouts will have until August 31, 2017 to complete the new mandatory Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training. New Scouters who register for the 2016/2017 Scouting year are encouraged to complete Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training as part of their registration. However, they do have the option to complete the existing Child and Youth Safety Training, with the expectation that they will have until August 31, 2017 to complete Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training.

Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training, can be accessed on myscouts through the David Heustis Learning Centre (DHLC) under “My Learning Path” or by searching through the Course Catalogue for Course ID: 6520.

Foodsafe

For camps, at least one leader should have Foodsafe. The Group will cover the cost for Section leaders to take this training.

First Aid

For camps, at least one leader should have Level 1 First Aid. The Group will cover the cost for Section leaders to take this training.

Youth in Rovers

Rovers require the same training as a Scouter, but do not necessarily need to take Woodbadge 1 training.

Youth Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers

No specific training is required.

FOCUS/FAST/FLEX training "will help youth learn the skills to become the greatest leaders they can be. These modules on core leadership skills will help youth take on the kinds of leadership opportunities that will take them to the next level and achieve truly great things."

Cubs can take FLEX (Fun Leadership EXperience) training, Scouts can take FAST (Fun Active Scout Training) training and Venturers & Rovers can take FOCUS (Future Of Canada United in Scouting) training. In the past this has been done at Camp Whonnock.

Focus/Fast/Flex training has been revamped for the Canadian Path Program. In 2017, the FLEX training will be offered as stations at Cuboree.

Parents

Any parent who helps in a meeting or comes to a camp needs to have some training before they attend. The amount of training depends on what role they are doing.

• Parents who participate in Scouting activities (including going on a hike) need to fill out a Physical Fitness Certificate for Non Members form and give it to the Section Leader. This only needs to be done once (and updated when conditions change), and the information can be kept by the Section Leader with the youth registration forms. The Group Registrar will ensure that the myscouts profile is updated with the information provided.
• Parents who help out at a meeting or outing need to be set up with a “Parent Helper” role by the Group Registrar. The parent needs to accept the Code of Conduct on myscouts.
• Parents who stay overnight with their youth need to be set up with a “Parent Overnight” role by the Group Registrar. The parents need to accept the Code of Conduct and complete “Child and Youth Safety” training on myscouts.
• Adults who attend overnight without their youth need to accept the “Code of Conduct”, complete the “Child and Youth Safety” training, and have a PRC / VSS (Police Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening).
• The “Child and Youth Safety” training is done when they parents take the “Safe Scouting for Parents” training on myscouts.
• Parents who attend activities as a “Parent Helper” or a “Parent Overnight” are NOT insured.
• Youth who attend who are not registered with Scouts Canada (e.g. younger siblings or friends) are NOT insured and need have a Hold Harmless form completed. The names of these youth should be included when submitting the Camping and Outdoor Activity Form.
• There used to be a requirement that Parents attending a camp had to complete a “Hold Harmless” form. This is no longer required.
• Parents who go across the border for an event need to complete a Hold Harmless form.
• Parents do not count for ratio and the two deep rule still applies (2 Scouters with all youth).
• If parents show up at a camp and have not done the “Child and Youth Safety” training, it can be found the following link: http://www.scouts.ca/vstk/pdf/training/Safe-Scouting-for-Parents.pdf Have the parent watch the video and make a note of who watched it. The Group Registrar can then add a note of this training in their myscouts profile.

The “Code of Conduct” and “Child and Youth Safety” training can be done on myscouts as follows:

• The Section Leader and/or Group Registrar should ensure that the parents are linked to their youth in myscouts. If a link needs to be made (or duplicate records removed), the Group Registrar will have to request that this be done by the Council Registrar.
• The Group Registrar should ensure the parent has a “Parent Overnight” role (or “Parent Helper” role) added to their myscouts profile. Do this before asking the parents to complete their training.
• Get the parents to do the following:
  • Log into myscouts
  • If the youth registration was done by paper, part of the process when the Registrar enters the information is entering the parent’s email address. This creates a myscouts account for the parent. If this is this case, the parent should go to myscouts and click on “Request new password”, enter their email address and confirm that they are human. This will email them the password reset instructions. Log in and reset the password.
  • A pop-up should happen to get the parent to confirm that they accept the “Code of Conduct”. This pop-up will occur if they have the “Parent Overnight” or “Parent Helper” role in their profile.
  • Click on “DAVID HUESTIS Learning Centre”.
  • Click on “*Parents attending an overnight activity* For quick access to your Safe Scouting for Parents training, click here.”
  • Complete the “Safe Scouting for Parents” training.
  • Apparently this works best with Google Chrome. Using Macs, iPads or smartphones don’t work well or at all.
• The Group Registrar can “Activate” the “Parent Helper” after they given their “Physical Fitness Certificate for Non Members” to their Section Scouter, the information provided is added to their myscouts profile, they have completed the “Child and Youth Safety” training, and they have accepted the “Code of Conduct”.
• Once a parent is “Active” in their role, they are permitted to attend a camp.